From time to time, patients asks my advice on colonic hydrotherapy, vigorous sessions of enemas that aim to cleanse the body of toxins that are reputed to cause a variety of ailments. The logic sounds plausible to interested patients. Over time, toxins accumulate and leech into the body wreaking havoc. Indeed, using the label ‘toxins’ already suggests that these are noxious agents. If one accepts this premise, it is entirely logical that cleansing the body of these injurious agents would have a salutary effect. Not surprisingly, the health benefits of hydrotherapy usually target very stubborn and vague symptoms and conditions that conventional medicine do not treat adequately. It makes sense that if your own physician is not making sense of your chronic fatigue, for example, that you would entertain other options. I get this. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy having more energy, better concentration, an enhanced immune system or delayed aging? But, in medicine and in life, just